Thank Blog It’s Friday! July 30, 2009

Shareology stole “Thank Blog It’s Friday” from AgencyBabylon; however, it will be the one and only time Shareology uses TBIF, the AB feature that debuted just a few months ago. Perhaps she will be forgiven this one time, given this post is actually one big Thank You to Agency Babylon.

Shareology has quite a few cheerleader tendencies, and yes, she does own a set of pompoms, thank you very much. A few months ago, she was more than happy to use those cheerleader skills as AgencyBabylon went through its conception, creation and launch phases. She stood in awe as AgencyBabylon grew, posted, and grew some more. AgencyBabylon set the standard for superbly well-written, graphically refreshing blogs.

Thus as it became obvious that Shareology was in launch phase, the high standards set by AgencyBabylon loomed high in the sky indeed. But, as in much of life, AgencyBabylon suggested Shareology Just Do It. And off we went on July 26^th, 2009; Shareology was launched.

AgencyBabylon helped support and guide Shareology in innumerable ways this week. Turns out writing the blog is only the first step; promoting the blog so somebody out in the blogoverse actually reads it is quite another. As AgencyBabylon shared wisdom on all things blog, Shareology took her first steps.  

So a big, huge, heartfelt “Thank You” and a shake of the pompoms to Agency Babylon for wisdom, knowledge and uncommon support this week and in the past five years!

Take a trip over to AgencyBabylon and enjoy this well written, entertaining and oh so intelligent blog or follow him on Twitter at @AgencyBabylon:

 http://agencybabylon.wordpress.com/ 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Big Shake of the Shareology pompoms to AgencyBabylon!

 

 

 

 

 

KayRoseland

@KayLoire

 

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Galleria: Retail that Works! July 26, 2009

In an environment where retail has been challenged, one continuing bright spot is the Galleria in Edina. Where to begin? Perhaps with the strollers at each of the many entrances. Galleria knows the customers it serves and the Edina mom. If she decides to make a quick trip inside, she will find a stroller waiting at the doorway to help her manage her child and her shopping.

I also like the way the Galleria deals with that horror of horrors today: empty retail store fronts. The Galleria uses architectural elements of empty storefronts to showcase current retailers and their offerings. You might be excused from enjoying the display and not noticing an empty shop behind. In a rare misstep, one well done display window is located next to waaaay too much empty white space where previously lurked a store front that no longer leads into an open shop. Most often Galleria paints these empty storefronts in an appealing color that works so much better than expanses of white.  

A few stores closed? No problem: Fill them with displays of existing stores offerings!

Great Bay Window Display: if only the wall wasn't white

Finally, a salute to the most consistently beautiful windows of Tiffany. Simply breathtaking.

A eco statement that delights the eye

A mere photo cannot do justice to those two display windows on the side of the Tiffany store.  Next time you’re walking by, take a look. Even in a challenging economy, walking through the Galleria just makes you smile. One suspects that happy customers are more likely to indulge their shopping instincts in this kind of beautiful environment.

Galleria thrives because of a sophisticated mix of unique local retailers and well chosen national brands.   The addition of the Westin Hotel to a thriving restaurant mix, combined with outstanding merchandising makes Galleria stand out in today’s marketplace.

Kay Roseland

@KayLoire

Networking groups for Sales and Marketing

When I found myself “in transition” for the fourth time in my marketing career, I wanted a networking group that maximized my potential for my next job.

Haven’t we all been a part of groups that spent the largest percentage of time commiserating in gory depth about the details of the layoff that brought them to this group? Been there, done that…

This time I wanted networking groups that would up my game. Groups savvy about ways that I could approach my job search. Groups that would edit my approach, support and surround me with smart people, and offer me ideas for my next steps.

I’ve found the following groups to be useful:

American Marketing Association-Minnesota Chapter

• www.mnama.org
• Minnesota chapter
• Multiple monthly meetings
• Plus, great free webinars

Smiling and Dialing

• www.smilinganddialing.org
• Senior-level execs
• Attend first meeting as guest of member
• Meets every two months

Sales and Marketing Professionals [SMPnet]

• www.smpnet.org
• Meets every second Saturday of the month
• MARCOMM sub-group meets monthly and features superb speakers
• B2B sub-group meets monthly

Sales and Marketing Specialists Network [SAMs net]

• For information e-mail mshanesmith@q.com
• Private, invitation-only group
• Meets weekly

There are certainly more resources out there, in person and online. Feel free to share your recommendations in the comments section.

Kay Roseland

@KayLoire

Networking Fatigue July 25, 2009

I’ve run into a new networking slant twice in the last week.  

At Smiling and Dialing, “Networking Fatigue” was mentioned. This involves an employed person who is besieged with requests for coffee by those unemployed amongst us. The Fatiguer spends coffee asking “Know of any jobs?” When the answer from the employed person is”No”, the Fatiguer gets cranky. Please, folks, remember to focus on others — give more than you get. (Thanks, SagePresence! Thanks, SAMSnet!). If you are truly giving to the person you meet with, Networking Fatigue will not occur; you will both come away from coffee glad for what you have shared. (And Shareology can tip her hat to that!)

To reinforce how important the above principle is, my coffee date on Saturday, mentioned she had been having some tough coffee meetings herself.  “They just suck the life out of me….”    She asked for a second meeting with me because I gave during meeting one, and she wanted me to help a friend of hers going through a tough time. Sure, I said, I’ll connect with him on LinkedIn and meet him for coffee. (Not coincidentally, at the end of our second coffee, she offered to put me in touch with a P.R. person in her company.)

Lesson to absorb? Networking needs you to give more than you get. Let’s play the game in a way that ensures we will treasure this contact and begin relationships that offer true exchanges into the future.   Don’t be a Fatiguer:  Be a giver!

Kay Roseland

@KayLoire

High tech? Low tech? Digital out-of-home? Or … July 23, 2009

New technology? Or old customer service?

So many things are right at Bachman’s, the dominant retail garden center in the Twin Cities market. Glorious gifts section. Your pick of outdoor statuary or koi. Patrick’s Cafe. What’s not to like? On a recent trip three point of purchase approaches stuck out from the crowd. On the decidedly low tech and high impact end of the game were mailboxes scattered around the outdoor plants, each offering one page takeones of plant information. Got a question on how to put together a container garden? Grab a handout from the mailbox and you’re ready to start a new project. Yep, low tech but effective. I started to keep an eye out for the mailboxes and what subject I might learn about next.

 

 

Want a more high tech approach to your shopping questions? Digital Out-of- Home has arrived at Bachman’s. Some units repeat TV commercials; some highlight this week’s specials. Others, like the one below, call your attention to product on the screen — and the product?   That’s very handy very nearby. Didn’t know you needed a garden hose today, did you? 

 

 

Rather than get involved in the new technology versus handy, dandy mailbox debate, let me point out the various rain gardens, watergardens and my personal favorite, the green roof. Bachman’s is great at showing you exactly how to use their products and how they can look in your landscape. The green roof  isn’t gigantic, but it is just high enough for me to stretch up to touch the green roof plants…..not your average iris or rose, but tiny plants capable of insulating your roof and saving money on your energy bill. After you’ve reached out and touched a roof garden, you are just that much closer to a green roof of your own. 

 

 

Just when you think you know Bachman’s, a trip to Lyndale Avenue introduces you to digital out-of home, informative mailboxes and real life examples of a green roof. Now that you’re totally relaxed, it’s time to pick up those geraniums with the great price and head on home……but maybe just a quick stop at Patrick’s for one of those divine fruit tarts!

Kay Roseland / Twitter: @KayLoire

Big Box? Big Lot? Or…Public Art? July 20, 2009

As retail  struggles, some retailers in blue stress low prices. Other retailers in red look to outside store design to draw customers into their stores.  Previous experience in point of purchase suggests that the outside of the store impacts the decisions made inside the store.

Those of us who have been strolling the newly opened Edina Promenade, participating in the “Judge the Public Art” contest, might be excused for considering the Super Target on York Avenue as part of that public art. Instead of the normal flat boring back of store, we are treated to some rolling hills, green grass, trees and structural elements of the new Target architectural language.  

Public Art/Target Art

 Proceed off the Promenade and around the store’s north side and you find the best looking rain runoff area ever featuring white chunky bricks replicated in the nearby low rock walls. 

Rain Water Drains

 Next up on our Around the Target Tour? Six red chairs ready for your next conference break, picnic, or just plain contemplating all things restfully red. (Will we ever look at a three foot red concrete ball again and not think of Target?)

 The chairs are just off the colonnade that leads you from Galleria across the street to a covered walkway straight south into the store’s entrance. This shaded walkway does a lot to alleviate the harsh Minnesota sun, and makes quite a refreshing entrance to the store.  

Almost as much fun as the Guthrie Theatre’s front porch on the river

Just to give one a teeny glimpse of how good design permeates all things Target, even the ladies room inside the store offers sleekly designed sinks and faucets. Want still more good design and function? Those hand dryers are super effective and efficient:  how come these weren’t in use years ago?

Great Design in places you’d never think to look………

I know it’s hard, but we leave the store (picnic supplies in tow) and continue our tour back to the Promenade. These hydrangeas are part of the landscaping that perfectly sets off the south side of the store.

Our final shot shows how Target has used images that support the brand while sending messages about how fun and elegant shopping here can be. (Didn’t think elegant was a word you would use to describe Target? Take another look at the woman striding forth in the red dress.) Not one image on the outside of the store that causes us to cringe; all show various Target customers, all demographics blissfully happy in the red spending zone. Try feeling this good about design in blue shopping cart land; ain’t gonna happen.

The Bullseye Branding Rocks!

A tip of the shopping cart to Target, and the designers, architects and landscapers who made this possible!

Is the U.S. consumer marching into stores because of the design of the exterior? Or will Bentonville take over the world?

Even in a challenged economy, I feel a lot better about spending my dollars in a store that makes me happy before I even enter. What about you? What about the consumer?

Kay Roseland / Twitter: @KayLoire

Shareology launches! July 6, 2009

Marketing Maven. Social Media Enthusiast. Life Long Learner……

Interests? Marketing! Social Media! Networking! Point of Purchase! Design!

These diverse interests bloom together under the umbrella of Shareology.

A recent walk on the Edina Promenade leads to  the next  post about the architecture of the Target store on York. Previous experience in point of purchase suggests that the outside of the store impacts the decisions inside the store.

Stay tuned!

Kay Roseland

@KayLoire